The Vote 2010: Bayani Flores Fernando

Bayani Flores Fernando

Bagumbayan Party

Campaign Slogan: Sa Political Will Lamang Titino ang Gobyerno

In between interviewing presidential aspirants, The Philippine STAR is also helping readers get to know the candidates for vice president. Called the spare tire, the vice president is the constitutional successor in case the president is incapacitated or, as in 2001, ousted from office. Again in no particular order, The STAR is running this series on the men (and woman) who want to be vice president.

Born July 25, 1946 in San Juan

Married to Marikina Mayor Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando

Daughter: Tala Fernando, 25

Elementary: Marikina Elementary School

High school: Marikina School of Arts and Trades

College: BS Mechanical Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology

Father: Gil Fernando, former mayor of Marikina (1947-1959) †

Mother: Remedios Flores Fernando †

State of wealth: After this election, I will be poor.

State of health: I’m okay, I can stay on top of my chariot. I go with our caravan from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

BP: 130/80.

Smoker: No, I quit 16 years ago.

Surgeries: Explore lap band surgery when I was 25, I got into a vehicular accident.

Medication/Vitamins: Pritor for hypertension, Janomet for blood sugar.

Ever consulted a psychiatrist: No.

How do you see the role of the vice-president?

The VP is there to wait for the president to walk out of Malacañang either horizontally or vertically. While waiting, I will assist the president in any way he will allow me. I will be his bastonero. On my first 100 days I will help the president establish the targets, the doable and necessary targets for each department or agency in government.

Will you be a high-profile VP or will you stay in the shadows?

It’s best to be a high-profile VP but as I said I’ll be the bastonero of the president. It’s good to be high profile because that should help me promote my advocacy.

Will you ask for a Cabinet post? Which one?

I will not. I don’t intend to get any post that will disrupt or consume my time. I want to go around. I want to be the bastonero of the president, taga-palo sa pwet. But I will not fire anyone, it’s up to the president but I will make commendations. One thing I’ll do is to call the attention of every Filipino and push them.

Will you be a traveling vice president? Which country or countries will be your priority destinations?

No. I think I’ve seen enough – Japan, US, many countries. Japan is my model, how it manages its communities. I’ll travel within the country to see the needs of various communities.

If you were the VP in January 2001, would you have taken over from President Estrada?

If our laws would allow. I respect our laws.

If you were the VP in 2005 and the Hyatt 10 asked you to take over from President Arroyo, would you have agreed?

Yes, but not on the prodding of the Hyatt 10.

If you and the elected president come from different parties, what will your role be?

I choose to be the bastonero. I will not be the executive secretary. I will not have a Cabinet position.